Identification of traceroute nodes and associated devices

Abstract

Various embodiments pertain to communication network systems. In particular, various embodiments relate to multi-path probing in communication network systems that can be used to estimate the complete topology of the network. A method includes receiving data at a source node from a tracerouting probe in a network. The data includes information about at least one network node. The method also includes determining an identification for the at least one network node based on information. In addition, the method includes using the identification of the at least one network node to determine an identification of at least one device.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving data at a source node from a tracerouting probe in a network, wherein the data comprises information about at least one network node; 
 determining an identification for the at least one network node based on information; 
 using the identification of the at least one network node to determine an identification of at least one device; and 
 estimating a network topology of the network based upon a network topology completion ratio, 
 wherein the network topology completion ratio is based upon an indication of a number of unique edges found in the network. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an identification of a first network node of the at least one network node in a multi-path route; 
 receiving an identification of a second network node of the at least one network node in the multi-path route; and 
 determining an identification of an edge based on the identification information of the first network node and the identification information of the second network node. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the at least one network node is at least one of public, private, or unavailable. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the at least one network node exist in one of the at least one device. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining the identification of the at least one network node based on a position of the at least one network node between the first network node and the second network node. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the identification of the at least one network node and the at least one device are defined using an internet protocol (IP) address, and wherein the network management system comprises a list or an array of the IP addresses of the at least one network node and the at least one device. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining an egress identification of another of the at least one network node or the at least one device using the ingress identification. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a first prefix of the first network node and a second prefix of the second network node are used for the determining the identification of the at least one network node. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the identification of the at least one network node based on an identification of a first network node, which precedes the at least one network node, and an identification of a second network node, which is subsequent to the at least one network node. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining at least one of the identification of the at least one network node or the at least one device using information derived from a network management system. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the received data at the source node from the tracerouting probe comprises an identification of an ingress interface of at least one of the at least one network node or the at least one device. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the ingress identification may be used to determine a plurality of the egress identification. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the egress identification is determined using a network management system. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the egress identification is determined based on the similarity of the egress identification to the ingress identification. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the at least one node is at least one of an IP address or a domain name server list. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory comprising computer program code; 
 at least one processor; 
 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: 
 receive data at a source node from a tracerouting probe in a network, wherein the data comprises information about at least one network node; 
 determine an identification for the at least one network node based on information; 
 use the identification of the at least one network node to determine an identification of at least one device; and 
 estimate a network topology of the network based upon a network topology completion ratio, 
 wherein the network topology completion ratio is based upon an indication of a number of unique edges found in the network. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
 receive an identification of a first network node of the at least one network node in a multi-path route; 
 receive an identification of a second network node of the at least one network node in the multi-path route; and 
 determine an identification of an edge based on the identification information of the first network node and the identification information of the second network node. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the identification of the at least one network node is at least one of public, private, or unavailable. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , the at least one network node exist in one of the at least one device. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
 determine the identification of the at least one network node based on an identification of a first network node, which precedes the at least one network node, and an identification of a second network node, which is subsequent to the at least one network node. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
 determine the identification of the at least one network node based on a position of the at least one network node between the first network node and the second network node. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein a first prefix of the first network node and a second prefix of the second network node are used for the determining the identification of the at least one network node. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
 determine at least one of the identification of the at least one network node or the at least one device using information derived from a network management system. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the identification of the at least one network node and the at least one device are defined using an IP address, and wherein the network management system comprises a list or an array of the IP addresses of the at least one network node and the at least one device. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the received data at the source node from the tracerouting probe comprises an identification of an ingress interface of at least one of the at least one network node or the at least one device. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are also configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
 determine an egress identification of another of the at least one network node or the at least one device using the ingress identification. 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the ingress identification may be used to determine a plurality of the egress identification. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the egress identification is determined using a network management system. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the egress identification is determined based on the similarity of the egress identification to the ingress identification. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the identification of the at least one node is at least one of an IP address or a domain name server list. 
     
     
       31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising:
 receiving data at a source node from a tracerouting probe in a network, wherein the data comprises information about at least one network node; 
 determining an identification for the at least one network node based on information; 
 using the identification of the at least one network node to determine an identification of at least one device; and 
 estimating a network topology of the network based upon a network topology completion ratio, 
 wherein the network topology completion ratio is based upon an indication of a number of unique edges found in the network.